South Bend, IN (SportsNetwork.com) - Jerian Grant scored 23 points and handed out eight assists to help No. 12 Notre Dame shake off a slow start and top Miami, 75-70, on Saturday. The Fighting Irish (17-2, 5-1 ACC) trailed by as many as 12 in the second half but had enough time to recover and shoot their way out of their hole. V.J. Beachem added 13 points on 3-of-7 shooting from 3-point range and Pat Connaughton contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Hurricanes (12-5, 2-2) were led by Sheldon McClellans 17 points and JaQuan Newton chipped in 16. Tonye Jekiri scored eight with a game-high 13 rebounds, but star Angel Rodriguez had just four points on 1-of-10 shooting. Notre Dame came into the game leading the nation in field-goal percentage at 53.0, but made only two of its first 16 attempts from long distance. After Miami got back-to-back 3s from Davon Reed and McClellan to go up 43-31, the Irish broke out of their slump. We were down against Georgia Tech and were down against these guys, said Notre Dame coach Mike Brey. Theres really not panic or worry or discouragement. They really have a strong belief that they will find a way to win. Demetrius Jackson connected from beyond the arc on Notre Dames next possession, and the Irish got triples on their next three trips down the floor to cut Miamis lead to five points. They shot 7-of-15 from 3-point range in the second half. The Irish soon went on a 7-0 run that tied the game for the first time since it was 5-5 early in the first half. Connaughton missed the 3, but Jackson crashed the boards and hit the follow-up basket to even the score at 50. On their next possession, Grant passed to Steve Vasturia from the floor and Vasturias running layup gave Notre Dame its first lead of the game. We just never responded to the second-half run they had with the threes and the twos, said McClellan. At one point it felt like they couldnt miss. After some back-and-forth play, the Irish took the lead for good on Grants triple with less than 6 1/2 minutes to go. James Palmer responded with a jumper to cut Notre Dames lead to one, but the Hurricanes would only hit three more shots from the floor the rest of the game, including McClellans dunk as time expired. Miami never trailed in an uncharacteristic first half for Notre Dame. Averaging the fourth-fewest turnovers per game in the country with 9.2, the Irish committed two in the first minute and five in the first 7 1/2 minutes. They shot just 40.7 percent from the field in the first half. The Hurricanes still only led by one at the break. After Palmers 3 with 7 1/2 minutes to play in the half put Miami up eight, Notre Dame scored on four straight possessions and would go into the break trailing 30-29. Game Notes Notre Dame now leads the all-time series, 9-8 ... Notre Dames Zach Auguste returned after a one-game absence due to a reported academic issue and scored four points in nine minutes ... Miamis Ivan Cruz Uceda scored two points in his Hurricanes debut after sitting out the first half of the season with a suspension issued by the NCAA ... The Hurricanes fell to 10-1 when leading at halftime ... Notre Dame inducted Tom Hawkins, the schools all-time leading rebounder, into its Ring of Honor. Ryan McDonagh Lightning Jersey . -- Joe Thornton scored the tiebreaking goal with 5:39 left in regulation to help the San Jose Sharks overcome a two-goal deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 on Thursday night. Ryan McDonagh Jersey .J. -- While Martin Brodeur wasnt willing to say he stole one for the New Jersey Devils against the Columbus Blue Jackets, almost everyone else was. http://www.lightninghockeystore.us/ .com) - Fair Grounds commences its road to the Kentucky Derby Saturday with the 71st running of the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes. Alex Killorn Jersey .The Canadian teenage golf sensation announced Thursday shell join the LPGA Tour in 2015 instead of attending the University of Florida. Brayden Point Lightning Jersey . After falling 5-0 on home ice in a game that could have tied them for second in the wild card standings, Washington head coach Adam Oates had some strong words for Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin. HULL, England -- Manchester United was gifted a winner by former defender James Chester as the English Premier League champion came from two goals down to beat Hull 3-2 on Thursday. Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. "It was poor defending for the two goals." Chester, a product of the United academy who made only one first team appearance, scored the opening goal with a fourth-minute volley. United conceded again in the 13th when David Meylers shot deflected in off United defender Jonny Evans. But Rooneys free kick was headed in by Chris Smalling in the 19th, and the striker volleyed in the equalizer seven minutes later. After Chesters own-goal, United was reduced to 10 men in stoppage time. Antonio Valencia received a second booking for time wasting after kicking the ball away. "Weve had some poor results at the start of the season and we have shown some real quality in the last few weeks," Rooney said. "We are having a go." United, which was eight points behind league leader Arsenal, arrived late at KC Stadium due to traffic problems. United had to phone in the team sheet, which included Darren Fletcher in the starting lineup for the first time since last December following treatment for a bowel disorder. It was Hull which made the brighter start, and scored with the first chance of the game. Tom Huddlestone delivered a coorner into the box where Alex Bruce got above Patrice Evra to head toward the far post.dddddddddddd United striker Danny Welbeck was slow to come off the line but Chester was one step ahead, advancing to volley into the roof of the net. Meyler then drove Hull into the penalty area and stayed up to collect Yannick Sagbos cutback across the box. Meylers first connection was wayward but Evans allowed him a second chance with a sloppy clearance that came back to the Irishman. The resulting shot would not have troubled goalkeeper David de Gea, but Evans again intervened, wrong-footing the Spaniard and turning the ball into his own net. An apparent groin injury to defender Rafael da Silva gave Moyes a chance to change things, and the manager made a determined move in sending on winger Adnan Januzaj. He had an almost immediate impact, winning a 19th-minute free kick from which United scored. Rooney provided the hanging cross from the right and Smalling produced a clinical header that went inside the far post. As United regained confidence, Rooney netted the goal of the game. He controlled Evans long ball effortlessly with his back to goal before flicking an overhead pass to Welbeck. When it came back to Rooney, via a combination of Welbeck and Curtis Davies, the England striker took another deft touch before sending in a fierce 30-yard volley. Bruce had to reshuffle at the interval, Steve Harper on for McGregor and Robert Koren replacing Meyler. But the hosts once more came out brightly, with Davies glancing a header and Huddlestone denied by a ricochet off Evra. ' ' '
